Bluebaugh Racing’s Team Magna Fuel found success and the finals at the West Coast Hot Rod Association’s (WCHRA) Summer Nationals at the Famoso Dragway this past weekend June 5-6, 2009. Things are looking promising for Bluebaugh and the team as continued efforts play out to squeeze potential out of the Magna Fuel Monte Carlo. Crew Chief Deborah Woodard said, we made a minor change in the engine configuration for this race and it paid off. We keep getting just a little bit faster each time. This is our second event final in a row. It’s no secret that simple details have made the difference along with the help and great products we have received from our sponsors.

This race presented a tuners challenge with no test and tune along with a shortened qualifying session. Woodard said going into an event right off the trailer can be difficult because you have to anticipate the track conditions and the tune up with little chance for adjustment and no room for mistakes. Bluebaugh struggled getting the Magna Fuel Monte Carlo down the track along with most of the Pro Street Class qualifying in the 9th position. Things admittedly felt a little grim as the car shook the tires not completing a full pass in either qualifying round. Being a team of competitive spirit, Bluebaugh and Woodard examined the little bit of data collected and agreed upon a combination of bold moves and hoped for the best.

In round one, Bluebaugh drew the number two qualifier Art Hodges in his Dodge Stratus for a Nitrous vs. Nitrous showdown. The starting line was packed with crew and spectators under a full moon and smoke filled air at the Famoso Dragway. It was anyone’s race. Bluebaugh launched the Magna Fuel Monte Carlo with torches lit taking the lead from the start and never looked back. The pay off had arrived. Bluebaugh ran a personal best of 6.42 @ 214 mph easily taking Hodges who shut down early with a 6.89 @ 161 mph. Woodard said we were both stunned! Granted the air at Famoso was good for producing big power, but we were not expecting the low 40 that had been evading us all this time. Through all the screams of excitement, there was a quiet peace of satisfaction as finally a goal reached.

In round two, Bluebaugh and the team faced the Evil Outlaw Blown 57 Chevy of Jay Deidrich, a relative newcomer and strong contender on the WCHRA scene. With a tight track Bluebaugh had to pedal the Magna Fuel Monte Carlo and Deidrich ran out of the groove turning the race into an exciting pedal fest to the finish. Woodard said it’s always hard to tell who is winning from the starting line but it seemed like our car started putting out some real steam on the top end. I could see it make its move as I waited in anticipation for the win light and hoped for the next round bye to the finals. Victory again as Bluebaugh managed to get by Deidrich with a narrow margin of .1467 winning the race with a 6.77@ 211mph over Deidrich with a 6.97 @ 210 mph.

In the final, Bluebaugh met Tim Henry in his Conquest Concrete Firebird for the first time again after the two ran for the WCHRA Championship last season. All gathered to see an exciting all nitrous final in what had become the wee hours of the morning after a hard night of racing. Both drivers put down a long smokey burnout and set up for the run. This time it was Henry who would take the win running a perfect 6.33 @ 221 mph over Bluebaugh, who continued to struggle with tire shake shutting down early with a 7.51 @ 148 mph. Woodard and Bluebaugh agreed though we had difficulties getting down the track all weekend, we couldn’t be more pleased with the overall result. We ran our best time yet and persevered to the finals from nearly last place.

Bluebaugh Racing would like to thank Magna Fuel for being our title sponsor this year. Fans can tune into www.speedsceneracing.com weekly every Tuesday for cool racing action. Thanks to JE pistons for joining us this year. Woodard said we have been using JE Pistons all along and they have always been of high quality standing up well to the extremes of nitrous we put through our engines. Thanks to Mickey Thompson Tires for their 3rd year of support. Our M/T Tires are the best at putting high horse power to the ground. Special thanks and welcome to Friction Unlimited. Our clutch is working better than ever. If you need large diesel truck repair stop by your local W.W. Williams service center and make sure to stop by our pit for cool give ways. Thanks to Fast Forward in Phoenix for our awesome headers. The company compares to the best and beats the competitor’s price by far. Thanks to Highway 69 Racing Products for being a sponsor and joining our crew. Special thanks to our friend and consultant Charles Carpenter Racing for continuing support over the years. Bluebaugh Racing is supported by the World’s Fastest Organization, LLC along with WFO Racing and Machine.